Islam gives great stress on having good character. It is one of the main elements which can not be ignored along with other acts of worship. The proper Islamic manners and etiquettes are highly important and they include many things. Islam orders good character and encourages Muslims to be trained in that, developing it in their hearts, nurturing faith in the worshiper through the virtues of the soul, and Islam through good character. Some basics are greeting others with respect, truthfulness, justice, gentleness, gratefulness towards Allah and people, sincerity, forgiving others, patience, etc. Allah says:
وَلْتَكُن مِّنكُمْ أُمَّةٌ يَدْعُونَ إِلَى الْخَيْرِ وَيَأْمُرُونَ بِالْمَعْرُوفِ وَيَنْهَوْنَ عَنِ الْمُنكَرِ وَأُولَٰئِكَ هُمُ الْمُفْلِحُونَ
“And let there be among you [a] people inviting to the good [and] enjoining the right and forbidding from the wrong, and those – they (are) the successful ones.” (Surah Al-Imran 3:104)
An individual’s character is one of the most important aspects of Islam. While acts of worship hold great significance, Islam is a way of life. Everything in a Muslim’s life, including manners and personality, should be in line with Islam. Quran Coaching also offers a course on Islamic Supplications with which you can learn how to lead a life with good character. A person cannot survive without having these positive traits in his/her life. Allah says:
وَسَارِعُوا إِلَىٰ مَغْفِرَةٍ مِّن رَّبِّكُمْ وَجَنَّةٍ عَرْضُهَا السَّمَاوَاتُ وَالْأَرْضُ أُعِدَّتْ لِلْمُتَّقِينَ
“And march forth in the way (which leads to) forgiveness from your Lord, and for Paradise as wide as are the heavens and the earth, prepared for the pious.” (Surah Al ‘Imran 3:133)
A Muslim is required to follow the dictates of Islamic law and observe noble character even in times of war and in difficult times, for there is no such thing in Islam as the end justifies the means. In other words, bad or unfair methods of doing something are by no means acceptable even if the result of that action is good or positive. Being Muslim we must follow the Sunnah of Prophet (SAW) and try to show good character towards all people no matter one is Muslim or non-Muslim. Allah says:
وَمَنْ أَحْسَنُ قَوْلًا مِّمَّن دَعَا إِلَى اللَّهِ وَعَمِلَ صَالِحًا وَقَالَ إِنَّنِي مِنَ الْمُسْلِمِينَ
“And who (is) better (in) speech than (one) who invites to Allah and does righteous (deeds) and says, “Indeed, I am of those who submit?” (Surah Fussilat 41:33)
An act of goodness is much dear to Allah Almighty than one’s wealth and richness. We should also know from where this goodness comes. Goodness comes from good Akhlaq which is the practice of virtue, ethics, morality and also a good character. Allah Almighty said that person’s Akhlaq is a tremendous thing in His sight. Allah says:
هُوَ الَّذِي بَعَثَ فِي الْأُمِّيِّينَ رَسُولًا مِّنْهُمْ يَتْلُو عَلَيْهِمْ آيَاتِهِ وَيُزَكِّيهِمْ وَيُعَلِّمُهُمُ الْكِتَابَ وَالْحِكْمَةَ وَإِن كَانُوا مِن قَبْلُ لَفِي ضَلَالٍ مُّبِينٍ
“He (is) the One Who sent among the unlettered a Messenger from themselves reciting to them His Verses, and purifying them and teaching them the Book and the wisdom although they were before surely in an error clear.” (Surah Al-Jumu‛ah, 62:2)
Quran is the source to cure our character because the Quran is for all humanity and all purposes of life. Dhikr of Allah Almighty is the thing to improve character. So we have to do sincere dhikr of Allah Almighty and such light will enter into our heart that people will say what good character this person has.
Good Character in Islam:
- Prophet’s mission: Muhammad ﷺ, to teach them the Qur’an and to purify them. Purification can only be attained by purging one’s heart from such imperfections as associating others with Allah in worship, having a bad moral character like hatred and jealousy and ridding one’s speech and deeds of all forms of evil practices.
- Faith and belief: As the Qur’an states, “Righteousness (birr) does not lie in turning your faces [during prayer] to the East or the West. Rather, those with true devoutness are the ones who believe in Allah, the Last Day, the angels, the Book, and the Prophets…” (Soorat Al-Baqarah, 2:177)
- The immense rewards Allah ﷻ: Good character will be the heaviest righteous deed to be placed on a person’s scale of deeds on the Day of Judgement.
- Restrain Anger: “Who spend [in the cause of Allah] during ease and hardship and who restrain anger and who pardon the people – and Allah loves the doers of good.” – (Quran 3:1340)
- Be good to others: “Worship Allah and associate nothing with Him, and to parents do good, and to relatives, orphans, the needy, the near neighbour the neighbour farther away, the companion at your side, the traveller, and those whom your right hands possess. Indeed, Allah does not like those who are self-deluding and boastful.” – (Quran 4:36)
- Do not be arrogant:“[Allah] said, “Descend from Paradise, for it is not for you to be arrogant therein. So get out; indeed, you are of the debased.” – (Quran 7:13)
- Forgive others for their mistakes: “Show forgiveness, enjoin what is good, and turn away from the ignorant.” – (Quran 7:199)
- Speak to people mildly: “And speak to him with gentle speech that perhaps he may be reminded or fear [Allah].”.(Quran 20:44)
- Do not say a word of disrespect to your parents: “Say not to them [so much as], “off,” and do not repel them but speak to them a noble word” –(Quran 17:23)
- Do not follow anyone blindly: “And when it is said to them, ‘Follow what Allah has revealed,’ they say, ‘Rather, we will follow that which we found our fathers doing.’ Even though their fathers understood nothing, nor were they guided?” –(Quran 2:170)
- Do not engage in bribery: “And do not consume one another’s wealth unjustly or send it [in bribery] to the rulers so that [they might aid] you [to] consume a portion of the wealth of the people in sin, while you know [it is unlawful].” – (Quran 2:188)
- Do not consume one another’s wealth unjustly: O you who have believed, do not consume one another’s wealth unjustly but only [in lawful] business by mutual consent. And do not kill yourselves [or one another]. Indeed, Allah is to you ever Merciful. – Quran 4:29)
لَّا يَنْهَاكُمُ اللَّهُ عَنِ الَّذِينَ لَمْ يُقَاتِلُوكُمْ فِي الدِّينِ وَلَمْ يُخْرِجُوكُم مِّن دِيَارِكُمْ أَن تَبَرُّوهُمْ وَتُقْسِطُوا إِلَيْهِمْ إِنَّ اللَّهَ يُحِبُّ الْمُقْسِطِينَ
“Allah does not forbid you from being good to those who have not fought you on account of your religion or driven you from your homes, or from being just towards them. Allah loves those who are just.” (Surah Al-Mumtahinah, 60:8)
We should try to improve our relations with those whom we do not get on; we should seek forgiveness from those who are angry with us, and we should create such a feeling of brotherhood that the Muslim ummah becomes one in reality. This is known as good Akhlaq that we should keep developing between us. If you want to show someone that you are a good person then show him with your Akhlaq because the sign of a good person is that his Akhlaq is excellent. Allah says:
وَإِنَّكَ لَعَلَىٰ خُلُقٍ عَظِيمٍ
“Verily, you are upon great moral character.” (Surah Al-Qalam 68:4)
Rasulullah (s.a.w) gave many glad tidings for those who practice good manners. It is the beauty of Islam that its followers try to adopt the best manners in their daily life. They do not argue with each other just for the sake of Allah and quit fighting and bad habits to enter Jannah. Rasulullah (s.a.w) guaranteed a house in the highest part of Paradise to those who have good character: Allah says:
الَّذِينَ يُنفِقُونَ فِي السَّرَّاءِ وَالضَّرَّاءِ وَالْكَاظِمِينَ الْغَيْظَ وَالْعَافِينَ عَنِ النَّاسِ ۗ وَاللَّهُ يُحِبُّ الْمُحْسِنِينَ
“Those who spend in [the] ease and (in) the hardship and those who restrain the anger and those who pardon [from] the people – and Allah loves the good-doers.” (Surah Al-Imran 3:134)
There are no exceptions whatsoever when it comes to talking about a good moral character in Islam. We should try to improve our relations with those whom we do not get on; we should seek forgiveness from those who are angry with us, and we should create such a feeling of brotherhood that the Muslim ummah becomes one in reality. Allah says:
يَا أَيُّهَا النَّاسُ إِنَّا خَلَقْنَاكُم مِّن ذَكَرٍ وَأُنثَىٰ وَجَعَلْنَاكُمْ شُعُوبًا وَقَبَائِلَ لِتَعَارَفُوا إِنَّ أَكْرَمَكُمْ عِندَ اللَّهِ أَتْقَاكُمْ إِنَّ اللَّهَ عَلِيمٌ خَبِيرٌ
“O mankind! Indeed, We created you from a male and a female and We made you nations and tribes that you may know one another. Indeed, (the) most noble of you near Allah (is the) most righteous of you Indeed, Allah (is) All-Knower, All-Aware.” (Surah Al-Hujurat 49:13)
Being Muslim we must follow the Sunnah of Prophet (SAW) and try to show good Akhlaq towards all people no matter one is Muslim or non-Muslim. Good Akhlaq also includes sincerity, honesty, and truthfulness in doing the acts of worship like Charity, Salah, Quran recitation, and Tawbah. Allah says:
لِيَمِيزَ اللَّهُ الْخَبِيثَ مِنَ الطَّيِّبِ وَيَجْعَلَ الْخَبِيثَ بَعْضَهُ عَلَىٰ بَعْضٍ فَيَرْكُمَهُ جَمِيعًا فَيَجْعَلَهُ فِي جَهَنَّمَ أُولَٰئِكَ هُمُ الْخَاسِرُونَ
“That Allah may distinguish the wicked from the good, and place the wicked some of them on others and heap them all together, and put them in Hell. Those – they (are) the losers.” (Surah Al-Anfal 8:37)
Hence, we all endorse common values. Let us pray to God to enable us to act on the knowledge that we have and to mutually uphold our shared values. We should approach Allah (SWT) with beautiful etiquettes for Allah loves the one with good conduct. One’s good character and good Akhlaq are the reasons that take him closer to Allah Almighty which ultimately takes him closer to Jannah. May Allah Almighty give us knowledge and strength to keep good relations with all mankind! Ameen
